Reboot, revive, repeat: the new era of old TV1:16

From Roseanne to The X Files, there's never been a hotter time for television series reboots. Why are networks leaning on nostalgia so heavily? Why are viewers flocking back in droves? And is your favourite classic series next to return in the revival era?

“Nobody is cutting their hair again on our network and our staff. That’s my new stance. No more haircuts!” the Deseret News reported Daniels as saying in 2000.

Felicity’s hair may have grown back, but the audience never did — and Felicity was cancelled in 2002.

The cast of Felicity.Source:News Corp Australia

Nineteen years on, Russell has finally admitted the whole hair debacle was kind of her fault.

Appearing on the Felicity reunion panel at the ATX Television Festival earlier this month, the actor, 42, revealed that it all started with a joke involving a little boy’s wig on set.

“We put it on me at like 2 in the morning as a joke … and we took a polaroid and over the summer we thought it’d be really funny to send to [Felicity creators] J.J. (Abrams) and Matt (Reeves) and say, ‘I cut my hair — hope you like it.’ Totally as a joke,” Russell recalled.

She then got a phone call from Abrams asking, “Would you really cut your hair?”

The infamous Hair Cut scene was filmed at 4am, and they actually cut some of her real hair — although she explained that she went straight to the salon afterwards and had the rest chopped off.

Despite the fallout, Russell stands by the controversial decision.

“I thought that was such a good storyline,” she said. “Felicity was never a fashion plate anyway … I was wearing baggy clothes, and I didn’t know everyone cared about the way I looked.”

Appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers earlier this year, Russell couldn’t resist a dig at the show’s fans when she was asked what advice she’d give her younger self.

“Your life is going to be so exciting, but whatever you do, don’t cut your hair short during the second season of Felicity,” she said.

“No, I’m serious. People will freak the hell out. You’ll get hate mail. You’ll even get death threats. But, gradually, your hair will grow back and your fans will forgive you, but you will never — and I repeat never — forgive your fans.”